Not-minding was better. Not perfect, but better than that disconcerting standard of everyone in a constant state of taking and being taken, the whole world painted in subtle shades of predation. The smile melted from his face with the unsteadiness that crawled up through Zevran with his question. Weaving his fingers into his hair, he pulled his face against Zevran's hair, listening to the loathsome words but not determined or cold enough to try to quiet him.
He knew there was ugliness in the world that Zevran came from. He knew that no-one came out of those things unmarked, no matter how well they could laugh and chatter away lesser trouble. But to hear when its tension and cold crawled up into Zevran's throat, how it tinted the world so much that the colour of it fell onto even Jack's features . . .
He swallowed thickly, then tugged Zev closer in a tight hug, kissing the crown of his head firmly.
"Let us accept, and we'll do it in a heartbeat, all right?" he murmured, low but decided, a note of cheer still bravely holding steady through his voice. "I don't usually speak for Eugene, either, but . . . just trust me. You won't be able to stop us. Promise."
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He knew there was ugliness in the world that Zevran came from. He knew that no-one came out of those things unmarked, no matter how well they could laugh and chatter away lesser trouble. But to hear when its tension and cold crawled up into Zevran's throat, how it tinted the world so much that the colour of it fell onto even Jack's features . . .
He swallowed thickly, then tugged Zev closer in a tight hug, kissing the crown of his head firmly.
"Let us accept, and we'll do it in a heartbeat, all right?" he murmured, low but decided, a note of cheer still bravely holding steady through his voice. "I don't usually speak for Eugene, either, but . . . just trust me. You won't be able to stop us. Promise."